Village on Main progress continues with new Thrive apartments

JENKS — The gradually unfolding Village on Main development has always aimed at creating a new type of walkable urban experience.

It’s only natural that the development’s first living component comes from a company that has refocused around similar goals.

Fort Smith-based builder ERC Cos. has selected Village on Main in Jenks near the Arkansas River as the site for its second Thrive apartment community, and dirt work is already under way for the $13 million, 168-unit development, slated to open in summer 2017.

Eve Rosin, a spokeswoman for ERC, said the apartments will give residents new ways to interact with the businesses and people around them.

“Part of the Thrive lifestyle is a kind of concierge living situation,” she said. “People aren’t just living there, they’re engaging with their environment.”

For example, Thrive employees will be available to assist with services that residents might be too busy to attend to, Rosin said.

“We’ll help set you up with everything from cleaning, groceries, furniture or setting up the utilities,” she said. “We’ll be the ones that can meet the people and help set them up with things.”

Similar to the original Thrive apartments in Bentonville, Arkansas, the Jenks Thrive will have a commuting program for residents. If you walk or bike to work, you’ll be able to earn gift certificates to local restaurants or wellness facilities.

Rosin said Village on Main was the perfect fit for the Thrive concept, which the company’s new generation of leadership hopes to bring to other areas.

“We want to come to areas that have budding downtown scenes, as well as places that have bike trails and walkability,” she said.

ERC chose the site before Simon Premium Outlets moved its planned outlet mall from an area north of Tulsa Hills to just south of Village on Main at the Creek Turnpike, but Rosin said it’s a “happy surprise” that shopping could be so close.

The one- and two-bedroom units will rent for $710 to $1,050 per month. Other features of Thrive will be a dog park, fitness center, pool, barbecue, outdoor fire pit, courtyard mixed-use areas, and garage, covered and surface parking.

Duane Phillips, developer of Village on Main, said he hopes to have more buildings under construction this year, including an office building and a hotel.